Articles 9.8.2005 - 9.15.2005

The Associated Press has an article on the ongoing legal custody battle that arose over the remains of SSG Jason Hendrix of the 1-9th, who was killed on 2.16.2005 near Ramadi and buried in Oklahoma near his father's house. His mother is challenging the process that granted custody to SSG Hendrix's father. A civil court trial is schedule for October. An appeal by his mother's lawyer to remove the Judge due to alleged bias was turned down.
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The Spartansburg Herald-Journal has an article on one of the 2nd BCT soldiers in the rap duo "So Heated." Spc. Chandra Sullivan (aka "Dre"), a fuel specialist in the 1-9th, describes his motivations for and experiences with rapping in Ramadi. He plans to attend college and continue rapping after leaving the Army.
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I-Newswire has an article on the 2nd BCT, 28th ID, that replaced the 2nd BCT (2ID) in Ramadi. The article describes the history of the unit as they received their combat patches in Iraq. One quote: "The company assumed control of the Al Anbar Province from the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division during the Transfer of Authority ceremony on July 28, 2005, at Camp Ramadi, Iraq." Thus, the 2nd BCT assumed command in a ceremony on 9.11.2004 and turned over command on 7.28.2005. Although 2nd BCT units were reported to be in Iraq from late Aug 2004 to early Aug 2005, these appear to be the official dates of command in OIF.
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A separate I-Newswire report discusses coalition efforts in Ramadi to gather feedback from Sunni Iraqis regarding an constitutional referendum scheduled for vote on 10.15.2005.
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The Stars & Stripes has an article on the shipment of 11,000 lbs of 2nd ID memorabilia to its new home at Ft Carson.
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Knight Ridder News has an article with a dire perspective of the insurgent situation in the Al Anbar province. One quote: "Insurgents attack about 77 times a day in Iraq, according to Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, the top military spokesman in Iraq. In the Ramadi area alone, which has about 400,000 people, there are eight to 10 attacks daily, according to the office of Col. John Gronski, 49, of Moosic, Pa., who commands the Army task force that's responsible for Ramadi."
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A US Army Corps of Engineer press release indicates that "Construction will soon start on Ramadi’s new $8.4 million waste water treatment plant." According to the article, The waste water treatment plant will be capable of treating 30,000 cubic meters per day of effluent - large enough to serve both Ramadi (in excess of 200,000 people) and Tameem (with a 100,000 population) on the other side of the river."